Luciano: Church leaders reflect on missionary’s slaying arrest

What does a preacher do when a beacon of light turns shockingly dark?

From the pulpit, that can be a tough challenge. That question — one of many — came to my mind upon Wednesday’s arrest of Nathan Leuthold. He is accused of killing his wife, Denise Leuthold, 39, on Valentine’s Day.

From the pulpit, that can be a tough challenge. That question — one of many — came to my mind upon Wednesday’s arrest of Nathan Leuthold. He is accused of killing his wife, Denise Leuthold, 39, on Valentine’s Day.

The slaying and arrest bring an abrupt end to the couple’s 15 years of frequent missionary work in Lithuania. There, with their three children, the Leutholds started Baptist churches and other outreach projects.

The family attended LaMarsh Baptist Church in Mapleton, but their missionary work was supported by other area churches. On Wednesday, the website for Cornerstone Baptist Church in Groveland still listed the couple among its roster of missionaries.

Steven Hauter, Cornerstone’s senior pastor — who officiated Denise Leuthold’s funeral — was hesitant to say too much to me, because of Nathan Leuthold’s legal presumption of innocence unless proven otherwise. Still, he said that on Wednesday morning he began to tell stunned church members to focus on Denise Leuthold’s survivors.

“We’re just praying for peace for the family, and we hope the truth will come out,” Hauter said. “I’m encouraging folks to pray.”

Calmness and truth also were on the mind of David Sexton, pastor at LeMarsh Baptist, who spoke at Denise Leuthold’s graveside service.

“I don’t try to be a detective or accuser,” he said. “My job as preacher is to build up people. ... (But) The reality is, we want justice as much as everyone else. God forbid it was him. But it is important that the truth comes out.”

For them, the challenge could be twofold. More immediately, their flocks might wonder how one of their own — long an exemplar of Christian ideals and works — could fall so far. To that, Hauter said he could point to Moses, King David and other chosen Biblical leaders who had serious faults.

“All men have feet of clay,” Hauter said. “We all could fail at any time. I’m not saying to this degree, but ... we can all fail in any area of life.”

Echoing that was Sexton: “Everyone has faults. That’s the problem. People focus on (sinful) people, not on God. When things go wrong, that’s people, not God.”

Still, as Hauter acknowledged — and this is their second challenge — that the arrest gives naysayers ammunition to cast stones, with the ripple effect blasting missionary work and Christian beliefs.

The public outcry of commentary and criticism — just another fake Christian who couldn’t practice what he preached — likely will be louder and sharper than the response to crimes without such a strong spiritual connection.

“It does seem more different when someone is accused who preaches the scripture of peace,” Hauter said quietly. “It does hurt the cause of Christ.”

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Still, Hauter said, preachers and believers have to gird themselves for such attacks — and push forward.

“What can you do?” Hauter said. “People will say things.”

Moments later, he paused, then excused himself.

“I have to go,” he said from his church office. “The investigators are here.”

PHIL LUCIANO is a columnist with the Journal Star. He can be reached at pluciano@pjstar.com, facebook.com/philluciano, 686-3155 or (800) 225- 5757, Ext. 3155. Follow him on Twitter @LucianoPhil.